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1296 Shotwell

1296 Shotwell Granted Affordable Housing Bonus Program Height Increase

December 2, 2016 by ogrande

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 2, 2016

1296 Shotwell Granted Affordable Housing Bonus Program Height Increase
Sets precedent as first-ever height increase for 100 percent affordable housing in San Francisco

San Francisco, Calif. — The Mission District’s housing crisis has been well documented by now, but its impact on seniors is often overlooked. To create housing stability for such vulnerable community members, in the fall of 2015 the City had granted the Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) and Chinatown Community Development Center (Chinatown CDC) the right to develop a property at 1296 Shotwell Street that would provide affordable-housing apartment rentals exclusively for Mission seniors. The current site is an auto repair shop.

To maximize units, the developers sought an Affordable Housing Bonus Program (AHBP) increase to 85 feet. The Planning Commission yesterday unanimously approved this height increase, setting a precedent as the first time this has ever been done for a 100 percent affordable-housing development in San Francisco. The larger development at 1296 Shotwell can now provide an opportunity to bring 94 affordable apartment rentals to the Mission – an opportunity that has not been available for more than 10 years.

Said MEDA’s Senior Project Manager Elaine Yee, “We want to thank the many community members who came to the Planning Commission meeting to voice their support, plus the 600+ neighbors who signed a petition in favor of this height increase. This is an important win for our seniors, for the neighborhood and for affordable housing in general.”

Community-based organization PODER, spearheaded by Oscar Grande, helped the developers build support for this development, which was designed by renowned Herman Coliver Locus Architecture. This firm’s innovative design — incorporating neighbors’ feedback from community meetings — will ensure that this nine-story structure will seamlessly blend with the neighborhood.

San Francisco Planning Commissioner Myrna Melgar, who voted in favor of the height increase, explained her reasoning as follows: “I am so pleased that the Commission unanimously approved this wonderful project.  It is a small but significant downpayment on the affordable-housing deficit that the Mission has been carrying for some time. We, as a City, have an obligation to our elders — and all of our residents — who have been not just left behind but actually displaced by our recent prosperity.  I hope to see many more projects like this in the near future, and am grateful to MEDA and other affordable-housing developers for stepping up.”

The development at 1296 Shotwell is slated to open in 2019 or 2020.

###

About Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA)
Rooted in the Mission and focused on San Francisco, MEDA’s mission is to strengthen low- and moderate-income Latino families by promoting economic equity and social justice through asset building and community development.
medasf.org

About Chinatown Community Development Center (Chinatown CDC)
The mission of the CCDC is to build community and enhance the quality of life for San Francisco residents.
chinatowncdc.org

About PODER
PODER’s mission is to organize with Latino immigrant families and youth to put into practice people-powered solutions that are locally based, community led and environmentally just.
podersf.org

About Herman Coliver Locus Architecture
Herman Coliver Locus Architecture has been nationally recognized for its work on affordable housing, schools and sacred spaces for nonprofits, as well as homes for private clients.
hclarchitecture.com

Filed Under: Updates Tagged With: 1296 Shotwell, Affordable Housing, Community Planning, PUEBLOTE

We Love Our Elders: Fran & Iris

November 28, 2016 by ogrande

Name: Fran Taylor & Iris Biblowitz
Ages: 67 and 70
Born in: Hyattsville, Md. & Jamaica, N.Y.
Current Neighborhood: Mission

Why did you move to San Francisco?
I met Iris in Boston over 40 years ago, not long after in 1976 we both moved to San Francisco in a beat up old station wagon with all our stuff and not much money. We came out here because we heard that the City was racially and ethnically diverse, there were great political groups, and it provided a refuge for LGBTQ people like us.

What do you love about the Mission District?
Fran and I have lived in the Mission for 40 years in mostly rent-controlled apartments. We stayed here because the rents were cheap, we are walking distance to public transportation, and real close to our work and the shops we like. We know our neighbors; we talk to them at the laundromats, bus stops, and on the streets. We’ve gotten to know our community and our neighbors over many many years.

Seniors like us are important in a community. We have been here for the longest time, we have historic memory. We can tell you where the old appliance store used to be, or which family lived at that home on the corner before they got kicked out, before the high rents and gentrification. We have been part of creating a supportive community over the years. We see familiar faces at protests, we see the grandmas at community activities, and we are there for each when we are sick. As a nurse I have taken care of my neighbors, I have taken their blood pressure and provided advice.

Do you feel that you are you at risk of displacement?
There are still many of our old neighbors around us, but we all feel vulnerable that we can be evicted.
Landlords can decide to sell at anytime and cash in on all new tech money and luxury condos. I spent years taking care of people at the local shelters and churches, like Santa Maria. Two-thirds of the people that go to shelters are seniors or people with disabilities.

Why does the Mission need affordable housing for seniors?
You start to think about what is going to happen to people like Iris or me, as we get older, and things get harder for us. I ask myself, where will I go? I don’t have the energy to start over. The Mission is what I know, it’s my neighborhood… this isn’t the time in our lives to change everything and leave our community.

The Mission needs its elders and children to remain and thrive. The City is not just a place to make your money. We have worked and contributed to this City, we have earned our rest and care. We contributed to society all these years, now it’s time for society to give back. Now is the time because we are in a desperate situation, people in tents, on the streets, Latinos and African American families being forced out to Vallejo. We are losing the soul of our City.
______________________________
Do you support affordable housing for seniors in the Mission?
Please sign our petition in support of 1296 Shotwell 100 percent affordable-housing rentals for seniors.

Filed Under: Updates Tagged With: 1296 Shotwell, PUEBLOTE, Save The Mission

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PODER (SF)

poder.sf

poder.sf
Bay Area turns out for a Free Palestine! Bay Area turns out for a Free Palestine!
🎉🏠 Today is the grand opening of Kapuso Uppe 🎉🏠 Today is the grand opening of Kapuso Upper Yard, a testament to what community-led planning and organizing can achieve! This journey started over a decade ago when residents of our community saw an opportunity to redefine what housing developments can do for us. This was made possible by the people-powered community vision, at Communities United for Health and Justice (@cuhj_sf) and the community at large.🏠🎉

🌏With hard work, advocacy, and grassroots organizing, we turned our people powered vision into a reality. Residents of all ages, languages, and backgrounds came together to lead workshops, planning sessions, and outreach initiatives that all came together to make this incredible moment. 

With support from BAAQMD, the Department of Public Health, UC Berkeley, Bodega, and June Jordan School for Equity, we researched and shaped our vision. Together, we identified the Balboa Upper Yard as an ideal site for affordable housing. 

CUHJ’s heartfelt event, ‘Home is Where the Heart Is’, played a crucial role in bringing everyone together to present the planning project's outcomes. Thanks to neighborhood groups, and over 100 grassroots community planners, our collective voice shaped this development to meet the needs of the neighborhood and its people. 🌏

🚉 Kapuso Upper Yard embodies the goals of transit-friendly and 100% affordable housing. 
Our success at the Balboa Upper Yard should set an example of people focused planning for an ever-changing city to always keep its people at the forefront.🚉

🛠🌟 We're also thrilled to open the newest @bicisdelpueblo shop space on the first floor! 🌟🛠

‘Bicis del Pueblo’ programming will soon be in full effect in the Excelsior at Kapuso Upper Yard. As an extension of our Mission space at La Fenix, we will be offering our bici-para-ti program, bike repairs, workshops, and a place for neighbors to connect.

None of this would be possible without YOU, the community, who stood up, shared ideas, and did the work. Today, we see the fruits of our collective labor. 

Let's continue to set the bar for what community-led, people-focused development can be in our city.
🚲🌱🙌🏽What does transit and mobility jus 🚲🌱🙌🏽What does transit and mobility justice look like? Hella youth on bikes at farms! This summer, PODER, together with @chineseprogressiveassociation brought 20 youth from Southeast communities in SF to explore the intersections of Environmental Justice through transit and mobility. @bicisdelpueblo equipped them with bikes and the necessary skills to ride through our streets, analyzing infrastructure needs to make active transport in our communities safe and fun for everyone. To wrap up our summer, we invite you to learn from youth through interactive activities and to shape what true transit/mobility justice looks like on the ground. Join Common Roots youth this  Friday, July 21st at Hummingbird Farm from 4-6pm! 🚦🚲🌱🙌🏽
🔈‼️Join us in reclaiming our public tax tol 🔈‼️Join us in reclaiming our public tax tollars to fund community needs and solutions‼️🔊
1.Sunday 6/25 at Hummingbird Farm 12pm: offering support for folks to prepare their testimonies for the following day’s public comment. 
2.‼️🔊 TURN OUT: Monday 6/26 at the steps of city hall at 9am for a rally and  public testimony ‼️✊🏽

✊🏽🌱 Hummingbird Farm is a youth organizing victory, seeded with the intentions of community healing through community governance, intergenerational stewardship, education, regeneration, and celebrating the diversity of our neighborhood.  Reclaiming Public Lands for Community to Steward 💛🌱
Although we have been successful in growing plants and community in the last 5 years, our funding has been cut in the mayor’s new proposed budget that prioritizes funding cops. In time of climate chaos, defunding community led solutions for climate resilience is not the answer. It is violent and it is against community’s needs.
Youth, Bikes, Leadership, Fun! Check out some hig Youth, Bikes, Leadership, Fun! 
Check out some highlights from our most recent Youth Cohort! Also make sure to apply to our upcoming Summer youth Program!

Are you in high school and looking to be active in your community AND ride bikes?! Earn a free bike, get confident riding in the streets of SF and build out environmentally just neighborhoods! Wednesday through Friday in Excelsior and Mission Districts. 

Apply by June 9! 

Link in bio!
"Bicis del Pueblo has been participating in the Cl "Bicis del Pueblo has been participating in the Climate Ride's Green Fondos since last year. The most recent SoCal Climate Ride Green Fondo was an unforgettable weekend filled with challenging rides, inspiring stories, and a sense of camaraderie that pushed our team of riders to their limits..."

Read more in our ¡Wachale! newsletter, linked in our bio! 

Make sure to donate to the Bicis del Pueblo NorCal Climate Ride team! Fundraiser is also linked in our bio.
¡Como siempre, nuestras Promotoras de alcance cí ¡Como siempre, nuestras Promotoras de alcance cívico siguen sus esfuerzos de presencia en la comunidad cada semana! Este 2023 estarán dividiendo sus dias de alcance comunitario entre la Mision y el Excelsior. No duda en saludar y recibir importante información de como defender nuestros derechos y recibir todo tipo de recursos. 

Lunes en la plaza de la 24 y Misión 10am - 12:30 am 
Viernes en el Excelsior en la Geneva y Misión 10 am - 2pm 
____________________________________________________________________________

As always, our Promotra team continues their community outreach efforts each week! This 2023 they will be splitting their community outreach days between the Mission and the Excelsior. Don't hesitate to say hello and receive important information on how to defend your rights and access all kinds of resources.

Monday at 24th and Mission plaza 10am - 12:30am
Fridays in the Excelsior at Geneva and Mission 10am - 2pm
🌿🚲🙌 Youth, Bikes, Leadership, Fun! Are y 🌿🚲🙌 Youth, Bikes, Leadership, Fun! 
Are you in high school and looking to be active in your community AND ride bikes?! Earn a free bike, get confident riding in the streets of SF and build out environmentally just neighborhoods! Wednesdays and Fridays in the Mission District! 
Share this post and let your folks know to apply by Feb 24th! Link in Bio!
As Bay Area recovers from the heavy rainstorms, th As Bay Area recovers from the heavy rainstorms, the ocean showed it’s overwhelming power, and our coasts reminded us of their own ever-changing nature.  It's imperative to make deep investment climate resilience is today. 

With that in mind we'd like to share a #ThrowbackThursday of sunnier days from the summer when our Common Roots cohort adventured on a week long bike ride and camping voyage down our coasts.

 During our journey, we learned how our local Bay Area coasts were shaped by the communities that have called them home and the environmental forces constantly at play. We engaged with current efforts to resist environmental destruction, build sustainable alternatives, and rebuild cultural heritage. 

Starting at home on Ohlone Territory, we explored the history of the Presidio. 
Rode many hills into the cool, misty, serene coast of Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, followed by sunny coastal trails to visit our farm friends at Pie Ranch. We spent time in the Learning Garden learning about the Landback efforts in place with the Amah-Mutson Tribal Band. In the abundance of the ranch’s beauty, we explored critical questions like: “What is one food or tradition that makes you feel at home?” and “How has the legacy of colonization affected our foodways?” 

After riding into Santa Cruz, we took a kayak journey alongside pelicans, otters and sea lions! We ended our trip sharing with each other about our roots and what it means to create new roots. Together, we grew our understanding of what it means to ride a bike, to love and support our buddies (especially up those hills!) and to be part of a team!
Sharing some highlights from our most recent ¡Wac Sharing some highlights from our most recent ¡Wachale! Newsletter. Make sure to check it out to tap into what we've been up to. Link in Bio!
_____

Compartiendo algunas fotos destacadas de nuestro boletín '¡Wachale!' más reciente. Asegúrate de echarle un vistazo para aprovechar y ver lo que hemos estado haciendo. Enlace en Bio!
Join us at City Hall tomorrow at 1PM! We will be r Join us at City Hall tomorrow at 1PM! We will be rallying to ensure the City adopts REP's Citywide People's Plan in their proposed Housing Element. 

The Citywide People's Plan prioritizes neighborhood and community expertise to actively and meaningfully participate in development and land use decisions. The current Housing Element not only works against racial and social equity, but threatens to have even more devastating impacts on
vulnerable communities than Redevelopment did. 

Join us to ensure the next eight years of development are people centered. The choices made now, are essential to the survival of our diverse communities.

#AffordableFirst
#PlanningToThePeople
#DevelopmentWithoutDisplacement
#WeWontBePricesOut
Join us at the REP-SF RALLY: CITYWIDE PEOPLE'S PLA Join us at the REP-SF RALLY: CITYWIDE PEOPLE'S PLAN FOR EQUITY IN LAND USE

➡️Tuesday November 15th @ 1pm⬅️

Join the Race & Equity in all Planning Coalition for a rally and mobilization at the Board of Supervisors hearing at City Hall! Demand that the City adopt REP's Citywide People's Plan, which prioritizes community expertise within the Housing Element. Community and grassroots organizations from all over San Francisco say YES to affordable housing first!

🏩🏗🏩🏗🏩🏗🏩🏗🏩
RSVP HERE: bit.ly/

CIVIC CENTER PLAZA
335 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102 (across from City Hall)
When:
November 15, 2022
Rally @ 1:00 PM🕑

Board of Supervisors
Hearing @ 3:00 PM🕒

📢Espanol📢Aqui📢

REP-SF Mobilizacion: PLAN DEL PUEBLO DE LA CIUDAD PARA LA EQUIDAD EN EL USO DE LA TIERRA

➡️Martes 15 de noviembre a las 1pm⬅️

¡Únase a Race & Equity in all Planning Coalition para una manifestación y movilización en la audiencia de la Junta de Supervisores en las Alcaldia de San Francisco! Vamos a exigir que la ciudad adopte el PLAN DEL PUEBLO DE LA CIUDAD PARA LA EQUIDAD EN EL USO DE LA TIERRA escrito REP, que prioriza la pericia de la comunidad dentro del elemento de vivienda. ¡Las organizaciones comunitarias y de base de todo San Francisco dicen SÍ a la vivienda asequible primero!

🏩🏗🏩🏗🏩🏗🏩🏗🏩
RSVP AQUÍ: bit.ly/

PLAZA DEL CENTRO CÍVICO
335 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102 (frente al Ayuntamiento)
Cuando:
15 de noviembre de 2022
Concentración a la 1:00 p. m. 🕑

Junta de Supervisores
Audiencia a las 3:00 p. m. 🕒
#REPSF #affordablefirst #developmentwithoutdisplacement #wewontbepricedout #dontrepeatredevelopment #planningtothepeople
Repost @repcoalitionsf 📢📢📢
This year, thousands have marched, chanted, sent e This year, thousands have marched, chanted, sent emails, and submitted public comments calling on Governor Newsom’s top air regulators to create a plan to phase out fossil fuels and build a #FutureBeyondOil.

We're closer than ever to winning a full, coordinated phase out plan for fossil fuels in California. But Big Oil want Governor Newsom and the Air Resources Board to give them billions in subsidies for their #CarbonCapture scams instead ☠️☠️

The final plan will be released this fall, so we need to act now. One way you can take action TODAY is by calling Governor Newsom’s office to let him know that we need a fossil fuel phaseout plan in this year's Scoping Plan – not more Big Oil scams.

📞📞 CALL NEWSOM NOW: (866) 932-1358 📞📞 
🌐🌐 Or head to caleja.us/newsom for more info and to take action 🌐🌐

Already called? SHARE this post to help spread the word! 📣

#OurClimateFuture #EndClimateChaos #ClimateJustice #EnvironmentalJustice #BeyondChevron
We celebrated the culmination of our Common Roots We celebrated the culmination of our Common Roots program with @youthmojo, embodying the history of the program: bringing together youth across movements, cultures and campaigns.  After a packed summer of  learning, growing, farming, making art and power building, our youth shared their learnings at our CUHJ Solidarity Summer Showcase. Youth led workshops in Earth Care (mulching and weeding), Artivism (screen printing) and a fun Gender + Sexuality Diversity Puzzle! Shout out to @filipinocommunitycenter @kabataansf @colemanadvocates for throwing down and to land stewards at Hummingbird Farm @urbancampesinx
Join us for our Common Roots Summer Showcase! We Join us for our Common Roots  Summer Showcase! We are excited to continue building youth power through the  tradition of @cuhj_sf Solidarity Summers, bringing together youth across movements, cultures and campaigns.
Come learn, eat, hangout and vibe with @poder.sf , @youthmojo , CUHJ member orgs @filipinocommunitycenter and @colemanadvocates !
Youth led Workshops: Earth Care (mulching and weeding), Artivism (screen printing) and tap into Gender/Sexuality Diversity through a fun puzzle!
Free and Family Friendly! Pls share with your communities!
PODER YOUTH SUMMER, here we go!!!! *APPLICATIONS N PODER YOUTH SUMMER, here we go!!!!
*APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED*
Are you in high school and looking to build out your environmental justice lens  AND your bike skills?! Join to connect to new youth, your neighborhood, delve into political education and get rolling with bike skills as a form of environmental justice! 
This is a paid summer opportunity. 

Youth who participate all summer starting June 15 (Wednesdays to Fridays every week) will be eligible to go on a week-long BIKE CAMPING adventure from the Bay to Santa Cruz ! (thank you, @CaliforniaFieldSchool) on July 24-29th. 

June 15th-July 29th.
Wednesdays- Fridays 2-5pm
Mission and Excelsior Districts.

DM us for more info! Link in bio to apply! 
Can’t wait to see you there!
Earlier this month, we celebrated the culmination Earlier this month, we celebrated the culmination of our PODER Youth and Bicis del Pueblo Bike Skills Program. After honoring and sharing affirmations with our intergenerational crew of beginner and learn-to-ride cyclists, we went on an Environmental Justice ride through the neighborhood. 

Our ride first took us to In Chan Kajaal park; this public space along with its neighboring affordable housing development is the fruit of a community planning process and ongoing resistance to displacement and gentrification. Many of the youth and elders in this year's cohort learned their cycling basics in this park, taking space and using public land to invest in their wellbeing. In Chan Kajaal, which translates to “Our little Village” affirms our communities access to outdoor public space and stewardship over our city. 

We then paid our neighbor Andres a visit. Andres led a lively discussion on gift economies, self-reliance, and the life lessons of bike mechanics. We gave Andres a despedida, as he is forced to leave his space on Balmy Ave through an eviction. We know his deep ties to community will remain and celebrate his presence and contributions to the neighborhood. Another reminder of why we fight for community leadership and stewardship of land and against gentrification.

Closing our celebration, we took portraits to honor our cohort's commitment and perseverance. They got to floss their new saucy rides. Congrats team, y’all did that!
Good Morning from 🐞🌼 Hummingbird Farm... A Good Morning from 🐞🌼 Hummingbird Farm... 

A great day for a ride 🚲 to the farm with @bicisdelpueblo to plant some medicine 🌱 with @urbancampesinx and learn about how environmental justice is connected to everything around us.

#OURROOTSARESTRONG
#bicisdelpueblo
#hummingbirdfarmsf
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